Friday, June 19, 2009

Summer Training






The above photo was a feature in the local paper taken out at Martis Valley near Truckee CA. I am lucky to live where morning temperatures are often in the 30s F all summer long. The Martis Valley near Truckee CA is often the recorded coldest place in North America during the summer months. At higher latitudes, the days are so long that the night temperatures do not vary as much. Truckee is at latitude 38 and 5800' in elevation. At Martis Valley I have a trail I like to use to train my team. I will rotate my three dogs and use two dogs while leaving one dog at home. The trail is a 4.1 mile loop that is mostly flat. The dogs are able to run at top speed. I use my scooter instead a mountain bike because the trail is not very technical. The trails just outside my front door are steep and rocky that require me to use a mountain bike. There are several creeks that cross the trail that have cold clean water that the dogs can refresh themselves in.
Recently I bought a helmet cam to record my rides. I can scrutinize each segment of the trail and know by the time reading just how fast my dogs are running. Because this is summer I am not pressuring my dogs to run fast and I am not running them as often as the other seasons. I stop at least once at a creek to let them drink and swim a little. Here is a recent youtube post of one of my runs.

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4 comments:

S Aimone said...

Hey Mike,
Nice blog! Great looking dogs you have there. Looks like you been working them hard.
Read your comment about your fight with AML. I think being an athlete is an advantageous factor. If you need anything, say the word.
SA

Mike Callahan said...

Scott
Good to hear from you. I would like to catch up with all my Colorado friends. I am not sure about getting you my email without inviting spam. Do you still have my address? If so write.

Mike

My new blog about AML featuring lots of dog talk too.

http://amllog.blogspot.com/

E Donoghue said...

Mike,
I was searching the internet for information on harnesses and came upon your blog. I have never responded to a blog before, so I have no idea if and how you'll receive this and whether or not the rest of the world will see it too. But, I wanted you to know that I am sad to hear that you have been diagonosed with AML. I am sure you are putting up an amazing fight, being the champion competitor that you are. I want you to know that my thoughts are with you.
-Ellen Donoghue

Mike Callahan said...

Ellen
I can't reply privately to you through this blog. Try sending an email to

callahan_michael at sbcglobal.net

Mike